West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has leveled serious allegations against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), accusing it of orchestrating the violence as part of a pre-planned strategy to disrupt the state’s law and order ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Addressing a rally in the Raiganj constituency, Banerjee claimed that the violence was not spontaneous but a calculated move by the BJP to create unrest. She pointed to the transfer of the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Murshidabad just a day before the festivities as evidence of the BJP’s intentions. “Everything was pre-planned. The DIG of Murshidabad was removed a day ahead of Ram Navami so that you (the BJP) can carry out violence,” Banerjee stated, suggesting that the timing of the transfer was deliberate to facilitate the disturbances .
The clashes, which occurred in the Shaktipur and Rejinagar areas, resulted in injuries to several individuals, including a woman who was reportedly hurt in an explosion near a procession. Banerjee criticized the BJP for allowing participants in Ram Navami processions to carry weapons, questioning the legality and intent behind such actions. “Why did BJP leaders conduct processions with weapons and flout court orders? Who permitted them?” she asked, emphasizing concerns over public safety and adherence to legal norms .
The BJP, on the other hand, has denied these allegations and shifted the blame towards Banerjee. Party leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, have accused the Chief Minister of making provocative statements that allegedly incited the violence. Adhikari claimed that Banerjee’s remarks, referring to Ram Navami as “a day for rioting,” emboldened miscreants and led to the disruption of processions across the state .
In response to the incidents, the BJP has demanded a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the clashes, alleging that the state’s law enforcement agencies are either complicit or ineffective in handling such matters. The party has also called for action against Banerjee, accusing her of failing to maintain law and order.
The controversy has intensified the political rivalry between the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the opposition BJP. Banerjee has criticized the Election Commission for what she perceives as a bias towards the BJP, particularly in the deployment of central forces during elections. She warned that the BJP’s return to power would undermine the Constitution and democracy, describing the upcoming elections as a “second battle for the country’s independence” .
As the situation develops, both parties continue to engage in a war of words, with each side accusing the other of undermining peace and stability in West Bengal. The outcome of this political showdown remains to be seen, but it has undoubtedly added a layer of complexity to the state’s electoral landscape.